17 - An Icy Breath

As Lalyn was lost in thought, a loud alarm echoed through the city.

"What...? Another dragon attack today...?" She murmured softly.

Suddenly, the door burst open behind her. Marcilla emerged, supporting Amoria.

"Huh!!? You were still here!!?" Marcilla exclaimed, surprised to see Lalyn.

"Ahh..." Lalyn barely managed to reply as Marcilla noticed the badge in Lalyn's hand.

"Tsk, never mind! Hurry to the basement!!!! I've never seen a dragon this big before!!" Marcilla urged, and they all descended the stairs. Amoria was slightly relieved to see Lalyn still there.

As they rushed down, panic ensued among the adventurers in the guild:

"Shit..!!! We're doomed this time!!"

"That thing is as big as the Academy itself!!! What in the Goddess's name is that size!!!?"

"IT'S LIKE YAGUN FROM 16 YEARS AGO!!!"

While the adventurers fled in terror towards the basement, Lalyn's curiosity was piqued. As Amoria and Marcilla hurried to the basement doors, Lalyn calmly walked towards the guild's gate amidst the chaotic rush.

"L-LALYN!!! THE HELL ARE YOU DOING!!?" Marcilla yelled as she shielded Amoria from the pressing crowd, guiding her into the guild's basement.

"Tsk, that stupid bitch..!!" Marcilla muttered under her breath, spotting the guild's maid. "Misa!! Grab Amoria and protect her in the basement!!"

Misa quickly turned, "R-right!! What about you, Miss!?" she responded, taking over supporting Amoria.

"I have to get that knucklehead inside! She has no idea how screwed we are if that thing attacks!!!" Marcilla shouted, then turned back to reassure Amoria.

"Marcy...!!" Amoria called out worriedly.

Marcilla briefly stopped and turned, patting Amoria's head. "Don't worry, sweetie. I'll get that dumbass and we'll all be safe in the basement soon enough. Got me?" She smiled reassuringly.

Amoria caressed her hand, forcing a smile but feeling slightly relieved by Marcilla's confidence, then nodded.

"Hurry please..." she whispered, before heading with the guild's maid to the basement.

Marcilla plowed through the crowd, catching a glimpse of Lalyn standing motionless outside, staring upward.

"Tsk, this is no time to be fawning over a dragon, you dragon nut!!" Marcilla screamed as she burst through the doors to confront her.

"HEY!!! ICE BITCH!!! HURRY UP INSIDE!!! YOU COULDN'T STOP THAT THING EVEN IF YOU SUMMONED ARLYN HERE!!! HURRY UP AND COME WITH ME TO THE BASEMENT!!" She yelled, grabbing Lalyn's arm.

"Do you think..." Lalyn began, her tone causing Marcilla to halt her movements.

"...Will there still be a basement to go to after that beast uses its roar...?" she muttered, her voice trembling slightly.

Marcilla froze, struck by her words.

"Only Magus could possibly stop that... Meanwhile, all we can do is hope it doesn't target our guild in its fit of rage..." Lalyn added, summoning her ice staff.

"You... know what that thing is...!!?" Marcilla yelled, anxiety evident in her voice.

"Arutol, the Dragon King's direct offspring..."

Marcilla's legs gave way at the mention of that name.

"No... Y-you're lying...! He finally... Sent another one of his bastards offsprings!!!?" Marcilla exclaimed.

"I do not know... I suppose The Dragon King heard the news... So, he sent Arutol now. Get back inside, Marcy." Lalyn directed the thunderstruck Marcilla.

"I shall shield this place with Arlyn's Ice," she declared, her voice a mix of futility and masked confidence.

"No... My... My daughter...!! She's.." Marcilla panicked, struggling to rise.

Meanwhile, Lalyn opened a portal. Her ice dragon Arlyn prepared a defensive incantation for the guild. Lalyn's face contorted with worry and anxiety as she silently thought of her daughter, sweat streaming down her face as she charged her staff, watching Arutol prepare his fire roar.

"Lalyn...!!" Marcilla called as she tightly hugged her from behind. Lalyn stood steadfast, showing no weakness...

...As they all braced for the inevitable.

Lalyn kept her intense gaze on Arutol, flying over a few kilometer in the air. Then, a thunderous noise reverberated, as if dozens of thunders had split the sky.

Before Lalyn's eyes, she witnessed the mighty Arutol, cleaved in half just as he emitted his fire roar.

For the first time in over a decade, Lalyn's mouth hung open, utterly stunned by the sight before her. As the two halves of the colossal dragon sailed over the capital's walls, a loud thud echoed through the air, mere seconds after Arutol's corpse disappeared from view.

"A... Miracle...?" Marcilla whispered, her voice filled with awe as she clung to Lalyn, embracing her tightly in disbelief.

[Master...] Arlyn, the ice dragon, began communicating with Lalyn through telepathy, her gaze fixed intensely on the sky through Lalyn's portal.

"Arlyn... What happened...? Did... The Goddess herself intervene...?" Lalyn asked, her eyes locked on the heavens, searching for an answer.

[No...! I am certain...!! I clearly saw what happened. It was no deity. The being who slew... No, slaughtered Lord Arutol... Is none other than Van Hellix..!! This accursed presence I sensed from above... It was unmistakably his! All it took was a single swing of his greatsword!]

Lalyn let out a soft chuckle, still looking up at the sky in disbelief.

"In... A single strike...? That... Meatshield? He's... Really here...?"

Lalyn mumbled as she slumped into Marcilla's embrace. Marcilla, staring at Lalyn's nape, her face a mix of disbelief and pallor, struggled to grasp the reality of their conversation.

"What... What did you say... Lalyn..!!?" She stammered, her voice tinged with disbelief as she gently supported Lalyn, trying to steady her.